Trauma Services

Trauma, whether it be intentional or unintentional, is consistently one of the leading causes of death. Traumatic injuries are categorized as any physical injury that is caused by an external mechanism. Not every emergency department can handle every trauma. A trauma center is more than an emergency department offering a state-verified hospital facility capable of highly specialized treatment for the most critical injuries. Based in a hospital, a trauma center has dedicated considerable time, equipment and facilities to the care of severely injured patients. Nurses, physicians and ancillary hospital personnel are highly-skilled and trained in the emergency and trauma treatment of these patients.

Trauma centers are usually located within the emergency department. Trauma centers handle the extreme cases where there is an issue of immediate survival. Highly-specialized surgeons work with the most advanced equipment to increase the likelihood of survival in the patients that are sent there. The word “trauma” best describes what brings people to these centers as they are equipped to handle life-threatening and critical injuries such as gun shot wounds, traumatic car crash injuries or blunt trauma.

UnityPoint Health Trauma Centers

Level I

Iowa Methodist Medical Center Adult Emergency Department - Level I Trauma Center

Level II

Blank Children's Hospital Emergency Department - Level II Pediatric Trauma Center
Trinity Rock Island Emergency Department - Level II Trauma Center

Level III

Allen Hospital Emergency Department - Level III Trauma Center
Finley Hospital Emergency Department - Level III Trauma Center
St. Luke's Hospital (Cedar Rapids) Emergency Department - Level III Trauma Center
St. Luke's Hospital (Sioux City) Emergency Department - Level III Trauma Center

Level IV

Grinnell Regional Medical Center Emergency Department - Level IV Trauma Center
Iowa Lutheran Hospital Emergency Department - Level IV Trauma Center
Jones Regional Medical Center Emergency Department - Level IV Trauma Center
Marshalltown Hospital Emergency Department - Level IV Trauma Center
Methodist West Hospital Emergency Department - Level IV Trauma Center
Trinity Bettendorf Emergency Department - Level IV Trauma Center
Trinity Muscatine Emergency Department - Level IV Trauma Center
Trinity Regional Medical Center Emergency Department - Level IV Trauma Center

ER vs Trauma Center: What's the Difference?

Paramedics often make a decision where the injured should be taken after evaluating the incident. Learn why some patients are taken to the emergency department while others need trauma center care.

Read the Article